Local Man Injured in Wreck

A local man suffered serious injuries when his SUV struck an 18-wheeler on US 77 last Thursday, Nov. 17.

The crash happened around 8:51 p.m. near the intersection of US 77 and CR 220 in Lee County about three miles north of the Fayette County line, according to a report from Trooper Roby Pennartz with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The report said 22-year-old Dustin Pace of Round Top was driving a black 2005 Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe was traveling in the wrong lane, the report said, heading south in the inside lane of northbound traffic. Alfredo Garcia Jr., 35 of Dime Box, was driving a 2019 Mack truck pulling a trailer. The 18-wheeler was heading north in the northbound inside lane. The report said the front left side of the Tahoe struck the 18-wheeler. TheTahoe overturned towards its left side and rolled until it came to rest on its top in the southbound ditch. The 18-wheeler jackknifed and struck a guardrail. It came to rest in the southbound ditch facing north. Pace, the driver of the Tahoe, suffered serious injuries. The report said he was not wearing a seat belt. Air bags deployed in the vehicle. A medical helicopter from Air Evac transported him to Dell Seton Medical Center. He remained hospitalized as of Tuesday, Nov. 22. The report said a toxicology test for Pace was subpoenaed with results pending.

Garcia, the 18-wheeler driver, was not injured. The report said he was wearing a seat belt.

At the time of the wreck, a black 2014 Kia Optima was heading north on US 77. The Kia struck the debris field left by the wreck and stopped on the shoulder. The driver of the Kia was 29-year-old Lacey Marie Aguilar of Giddings. She was transporting four passengers, a 64-year-old woman and three children ages 6, 4 and 2. Everyone in the Kia were wearing seat belts, and the children were secured in child seats and a booster seats. None of them were injured.